Compositions and methods for reducing fire hazard of flammable refrigerants

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions comprising flammable refrigerant, fire hazard-reducing agent, and optionally a lubricant suitable for use in a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus. Further, the present invention relates to compositions comprising lubricant and fire hazard-reducing agent and methods for reducing flammability of flammable refrigerant, for delivering a fire hazard-reducing agent to a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus, and for replacing a non-flammable refrigerant with a flammable refrigerant.

1. A method for reducing fire-hazard in or in the vicinity of a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus comprising introducing into said apparatus a composition comprising:
 (i) at least one flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant; 
 (ii) at least one phosphate ester fire reducing agent; and 
 (iii) at least one additional fire hazard reducing agent comprising at least one carbonate salt. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises an additional refrigerant selected from the group consisting of fluoroethers, hydrocarbon ethers, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant is a mixture, said mixture further comprising at least one non-flammable refrigerant. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises at least one lubricant suitable for use with refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of anticorrosion, antiwear, stabilizer and lubricity additives. 
     
     
       6. A method for reducing fire-hazard in or in the vicinity of a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus comprising introducing into said apparatus a composition comprising:
 (i) a phosphate ester fire hazard-reducing agent suitable for use with a flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant; 
 (ii) a lubricant suitable for use with refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus; and 
 (iii) at least one additional fire hazard-reducing agent comprising at least one carbonate salt. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4  or  6  wherein said lubricant is selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, paraffins, naphthenes, synthetic paraffins, alkylbenzenes, poly-alpha-olefins, polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polyol esters and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  or  6 , wherein said composition further comprises at least one additional fire hazard reducing agent selected from the group consisting of acetates, borates, bicarbonates, phosphonates, nitrates, hydroxides, oxides, molybdates, bromides, bromates, chlorates, chlorides, iodides, organic phosphonates, phosphonium salts, boric acid, organic boron compounds, brominated compounds, chlorinated paraffins, ammonium polyphosphates, melamines, mixtures of water with polyalkylene glycols or polyol esters, perfluorinated lubricants, fluoroketones, fluoroiodo compounds, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  or  6  wherein said phosphate ester fire hazard-reducing agent is an alkylated triaryl phosphate. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  or  6  wherein said phosphate ester fire hazard-reducing agent is a butylated triphenyl phosphate. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  or  6  wherein said phosphate ester fire hazard-reducing agent is an isopropylated triphenyl phosphate. 
     
     
       12. A method for replacing a non-flammable refrigerant with a flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant in a refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus, said method comprising adding a phosphate ester fire-hazard reducing agent to said flammable refrigerant, further comprising adding at least one additional fire-hazard reducing agent comprising a carbonate salt. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant comprises R-134a. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant comprises R-152a. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant R-134a is replaced by said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant comprising R-152a. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant comprises R-410A. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12  wherein said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant comprises R-32. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant R-410A is replaced by said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant comprising R-32. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12  wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus is a stationary refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12  wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus is a centrifugal chiller, household refrigerator or freezer, residential air conditioner, supermarket food cooler, supermarket display case, or cold storage warehouse. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 12  wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus is a mobile refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 12  wherein said refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus is an automotive air conditioner or a refrigerated transport vehicle. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant R-134a is replaced by said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant R-152a in an automotive air conditioner. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant R-134a is replaced by said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant R-152a combined with at least one phosphate ester fire-hazard reducing agent in an automotive air conditioner. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-flammable refrigerant R-134a is replaced by said flammable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant R-152a combined with at least one phosphate ester fire-hazard reducing agent and at least one carbonate salt in an automotive air conditioner.